Health Science (HSCI)

College of Nursing and Health Science

150 Global Issues in Health, Nutrition, and Culture (3:3:0) Examines crosscultural values in health and nutrition, exploring health- and nutrition-related problems that afflict populations throughout the world and efforts to achieve optimal health for all. Introduces nutrition and health concerns from a variety of cultures around the world. Also considers population dynamics, vital statistics, global disease patterns, and cultural variations. Includes lectures, discussion, video presentations, oral presentations, web research.

250 Holistic Health Perspectives (3:3:0) Students survey health and wellness issues related to their personal profile, defining their health in context of family, environment, culture, society, and life span. Stresses motivational strategies for improving and maintaining health, and considers individual health in relation to larger community and national health goals.

270, 271 Overview of Human Anatomy and Physiology I (3:3:0), (3:3:0)Prerequisite: permission of college. Must be taken in sequence. Fast-paced, condensed course covering basics of human anatomy and principles of physiology. Some knowledge of basic biology, and chemistry and cell structure and function, necessary. (Students who lack this background will be assigned reading during the first class to catch up.) Successful students will be capable of independent work, and will have many hours to devote to the study of anatomy and physiology outside the classroom.

275 Overview of Microbiology (3:3:0)Prerequisite: permission of college. Fast-paced, condensed lecture course covering basics of microbiology. Examines morphology, genetics, physiology, ecology, and control of microorganisms. Successful students will be capable of independent work, and will have many hours to devote to the study of microbiology outside the classroom.

303 Strategic Health Management and Planning (3:3:0) Introduces past and present interventions that affect supply and demand for healthcare at community, state, regional, and national levels. Presents health planning and regulatory entities, and discusses strategic and program planning in the context of current economic and market conditions.

307 Assisted Living Management and Philosophy (3:3:0) Overview of growth of assisted living industry, its role in the healthcare continuum, current or proposed regulatory environments, and differences between assisted living and other forms of senior healthcare and senior living services. Specific instruction provided in philosophy and day-to-day management of assisted living communities, including
resident care, operations, finance and budgeting, human resources and staffing, and successful marketing and community relations. Also examines the future of the industry, including cutting-edge programs and technologies, and approaches to creating the next generation of assisted living services.

332/NURS 332 Concepts of Health Promotion and
Disease Prevention Throughout the Life Span (3:3:0)
Introduces epidemiology, health promotion, disease prevention, and their impact on health of culturally diverse and vulnerable individuals, families, small groups, and communities. Focuses on health problems and potential interventions throughout the life span, and incorporates teaching, learning, and critical thinking as they apply to health professionals.

334 Role Development for Health Science Majors (3:3:0) Exploration of career opportunities that build on basic education in a health science field. Includes historical perspectives on ethical, legal, political, social, and cultural issues related to healthcare policy and research. Explores multidisciplinary collaboration among healthcare providers.

343/NURS 343 Pharmacology (3:3:0) Study of the principles of pharmacokinetics, the pharmadynamics of selected drug classifications, and nursing responsibilities related to drug administration to individuals throughout the life span.

344 Health and Risk Appraisal (3:2:2) Exposure to a number of models of health appraisal and risk assessment through multiple technological means. Students implement a model of their choice in their practicum site.

378 Healthcare Delivery in the United States (3:3:0) Introduces history and current structure and function of U.S. healthcare delivery. Explores components and subsystems of healthcare and the sociopolitical (public and private) context that shapes the system and impacts access to healthcare and delivery of health services.

402/HSCI 505/NURS 505 Case Management (3:3:0)Prerequisite: bachelorÕs degree or permission of instructor. Open to seniors. Survey course on the state of case management programs and practice for health and human service professionals. Special emphasis on comparing nature, process, and outcomes for baccalaureate and graduate students guided by the objectives.

420 Strategies for Nutrition Education (3:3:0)Prerequisite: HSCI 295 or permission of instructor. Examines methods and techniques for educating individuals about nutrition. Addresses nutrition education issues from a variety of populations with respect to culture, age, religion, and specific disease states.

421 Community Nutrition (3:2:1)Prerequisite: HSCI 295 or permission of instructor. Focuses on nutrition and health problems of specific community settings, and examines the practices of nutrition services in various communities.

422 Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle (3:3:0)Prerequisite: HSCI 295 or permission of instructor. Focuses on the nutrient needs and food habits throughout the life cycle. Emphasizes nutrient needs prior, during and after pregnancy, and nutritional requirements of infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly.

453/NURS 453 Research in Nursing and Health Science (3:3:0)Prerequisite: completion of HSCI 300-level requirements. Introductory research course to present basic concepts and methods of research. Research process examined as a foundation for scholarship. Emphasizes critique and use of current nursing and health science research in clinical practice.

465/NURS 465 Examination and Integration of Professional and Healthcare Issues (3:3:0) Meets Mason requirement as synthesis course. Additional corequisite for nursing majors: satisfactory completion of NCL Review Testing and Study Plan for LPN and traditional and second-degree pathway; completion of all general education requirements and English 302. Capstone seminar course synthesizing varied dimensions of health professionalÕs role in global society. Examines issues in healthcare through reflection on natural and behavioral sciences, humanities, and other prerequisite coursework. Selected topics examined through reading, writing, and discussion. Content builds on knowledge and skills acquired through course work and field experience in the major and general education, as well as through life experience. Application of
literature in professional practice and related disciplines expected in formal and informal writings on issues.
Student writings and presentations receive written self-evaluation and formal review by peers and multiple
faculty members involved in teaching the course. Writing-intensive.

480 Health Maintenance and Health Aspects of Aging (3:3:0) Studies physiological and psychological factors that influence health and have implications for preventive measures in disease and health disorders in the aging. Examines nutrition, nature of health problems, and methods of assessing physical and psychological needs.

492 Death, Dying and Decision Making (3:3:0) Interdisciplinary examination and analysis of clinical care of the dying, and psychosocial issues related to the processes of death and dying. Special emphasis on applying ethical principles in resolution of complex problems for individuals with life-threatening illnesses and their families as caregivers or decision makers. Decision-maker models provide basis for clinical case discussions related to dying. Questions of futility examined with associated care issues. Current professional and lay literature discussed in the context of socially changing norms and mores surrounding end-of-life decisions. Hospice and alternative palliative care models are explored for terminally ill patients. Policies, laws, and regulations that impact caregivers and health service providers are reviewed, including advance directives, do-not-resuscitate orders, and assisted suicide. Bereavement as a part of the death, dying, and grieving process for family members is presented. Lecture-discussion.

496/NURS 496 Violence in Society (3:3:0) Interdisciplinary lecture, discussion course examines magnitude of the problem of violence globally and more specifically within the United States. Discussion and reflective activities engage students in the learning process.

498 Health Science Internship (9:2:14)Prerequisite: open to HSCI majors only. Taken in last semester of studies after completing all course requirements. Capstone course involves two-hour weekly seminar, and 14-16 hour internship in a health related organization. Provides variety of applied experiences in the chosen area of concentration under direction of CNHS faculty member and preceptor in the field agency. Integrates critical thinking, project planning and management, communication, and analytic skills in internship and development of project product.

505/HSCI 402/NURS 505 Case Management (3:3:0)Prerequisite: bachelorÕs degree or permission of instructor. Open to seniors. Surveys state of case-management programs and practice for health and human service professionals. Special emphasis on comparing the nature, process, and outcomes for baccalaureate and graduate students guided by the objectives.

520/NURS 520 Rehabilitation Theory and Practice (3:3:0) Explores rehabilitation theory and research and application to the practice of todayÕs healthcare professional and care of specific client populations. Rehabilitation theory evaluated as new paradigm for healthcare delivery.

525 Risk Analysis in Health and Biosciences (3:3:0) Explores assessing risk at the time of increased threats, and driving the information security program of healthcare organization. Includes qualitative and quantitative risk analysis models, risk analysis life cycle, and methods of evaluating validity and reliability of existing indices. Covers existing tools for risk assessment, and procedures for constructing new risk indices.

530/NURS 534 Nutrition: A Global Perspective (3:3:0) Directed at students from a variety of disciplines. Examines malnutrition and how it occurs by looking at several situations from around the world. Covers impact of how nutrition can affect a society and community, and examines benefits of a well-nourished population.

542/NURS 542 Health Policy (3:2:1) Explores development of public health policy, and influence healthcare
delivery, nursing, and other health professions. Classroom and field experience.

543/NURS 543 Global Health: Trends and Policies (3:3:0) Covers todayÕs health challenges; their various social, economic, and epidemiological causes; role and likely success of information and technology transfer, primary preventive healthcare, social awareness, and intervention in alleviating the problems. Lecture and discussion.

544/NURS 544 The Washington Internship in Health Policy (1:0:2)Prerequisite: annual Health Policy Institute. Undergraduates require permission of instructor. One-week (40 hours) exposure to organization with public policy agenda in health. Placements may be in a Capitol Hill office, federal health agency, national association, or other policy organization. Interns engage in field experiences related to the legislative process, including network development of policy-interested contacts, and skill development to expand ability to impact the health policymaking process.

550/NURS 585 Entrepreneurship in Healthcare (3:3:0) Overview of models of entrepreneurship in healthcare. Provides opportunities for collaborative problem-solving to support business development, entrepreneurial behavior, and leadership. Explores innovative approaches to and alternatives for nursing practice and healthcare delivery.

571/NURS 571 HIV/AIDS: Concepts, Principles and Interventions (3:3:0) Overview of HIV disease, including retrospective and current concepts and analyses,
global and societal impact, and cutting-edge research.
Examines development of therapeutic tools and skills to educate, reduce risks, control infection, and affect care and healing of client, family, and community, as well as issues of increasing dilemma for healthcare professionals.

577/NURS 577 Comparative Healthcare Systems in the World (3:3:0) Comprehensive review of selected national healthcare systems in World Health OrganizationÕs designated regions. Healthcare systems analyzed, compared,
and contrasted; issues discussed in relationship to national
governments and global health.

578/NURS 578 Cultural Competence and Diversity in Healthcare (3:3:0) Examines cultural competence and diversity in healthcare, and explores theories and models. Topics include culture as a system, health and illness beliefs, and practices of various cultures.

583/NURS 583 Food and Culture: Biocultural Perspectives on Food and Nutrition (3:3:0)Prerequisite: HSCI 295 or permission of instructor. Examines food and eating behaviors, diet, and nutrition from crosscultural perspective. Focuses on how and why people choose what to eat, range and significance of crosscultural variability in diet, how diets have changed, and health and social implications of those changes. Lecture, discussion, video presentations, audiovisual aids, student presentations, case study analyses.

585 Care Management of Persons with AlzheimerÕs Disease and Related Disorders (3:3:0) Focuses on caring for people with dementing illnesses in acute, community and long term care settings. Discusses strategies for managing and evaluating care provided by family caregivers and
allied health personnel.

586/NURS 588 Process Improvement for Health Services (3:3:0) Examines how improved work processes lead to quality improvement. Explores contribution of operations research and quality management to improve delivery and production of health services and business processes from the perspective of healthcare managers.

601 Electronic Commerce and Outline Market for Health Services (3:3:0) Explores development of online health services; organization of online businesses; online marketing, financial and clinical transactions; and venture capital and IPO process. Explores creating and maintaining web pages and online databases. Reviews literature on impact of computer services on patient care and healthcare organizations, and examples of successful and bankrupt technology firms in healthcare. Students, in groups, draft business plan and develop early version of service they propose.

610 Maintaining Business Community for Healthcare (3:3:0) Considers potential types of catastrophes, their likely impact, and how the organization could continue to serve its mission and community in aftermath. Explores interdependences among various components of healthcare delivery system, regional health services, disaster planning, business record protection, patient information and information systems protection, manpower planning, professional credentialing, access to supplies and drugs, and financial implication and resources.

615 Molecular and Clinical Genetics in Healthcare and Research (12:0:36)Prerequisites: graduate nursing student, advanced practice nurse, or nursing faculty. Provides foundation in molecular and clinical genetics, supporting clinical practice and laboratory research. Covers basic concepts and principles of genetics (molecular, clinical and biochemical, and cytogenetics). Uses case-based approach and published research to integrate concepts and principles of genetics. Provides understanding of genetic testing, detection of genetic disease, and how this information can be used for counseling individuals and families.

626 Healthcare Informatics and Computer Systems (3:3:0) Studies information and data management in nursing and the application of computer systems to solve problems in nursing practice, education, administration, and research. Focuses on generic concepts of information science, and use of computers to manage nursing healthcare data, incorporating computing skills for using specific software packages.

635/CONF 738 Research Seminar in Health and Conflict Analysis (3:0:0) Capstone seminar; final course in graduate certificate program in conflict resolution for health professionals. Involves conducting research and analyzing specific conflict situation in depth. Builds on theory, research, and practice learned in previous courses.

637 Normal Aging and Health Deviations (3:3:0) Examines biopsychosocial aspects of aging. Examines effects of age changes and health deviations on functional capacity of older persons, and on interventions and promotion of the elderlyÕs capacity for self-care.

640/NURS 640 Dimensions of Communications in a Technologically Enhanced Health System (3:3:0) Exam-ines effects of technological innovation on the communication and interdisciplinary collaboration of stakeholders in the healthcare systems of the new millennium.

651 Assisted Living Sales and Marketing (3:3:0) Practice and application of selling and marketing techniques
in assisted living and senior housing industry. Evaluation of issues and ethics relative to the senior consumer,
with emphasis on lead generation, closing, and move-in coordination.

659 Healthcare of Aging Persons with Chronic Illnesses (3:3:0)Prerequisite: HSCI 637. Focuses on biological, psychological, and sociocultural aspects of aging and chronic illness. Examines functional capacity of persons and the capacity for self-care.

670 Quality Management in Healthcare (3:3:0) Explores issues, trends, and methodologies in healthcare quality management within a systems framework with emphasis on law, ethics, principles, tools and techniques, cost, strategic directions, and evaluation. Roles and responsibilities of the various levels of healthcare managers are addressed.

678 Introduction to the U.S. Health System (3:3:0) Prerequisite to all other certificate courses for students who do not have familiarity with all aspects of U.S. healthcare system and recent working experience. Explores the structure, function, and financing of U.S. healthcare delivery systems. Familiarizes students with the development of the various subsystems of care and the ways in which public, private, and social forces influence the politics of healthcare, shape the system, and impact public health. Includes analysis of systems infrastructure and the socio-political context of the U.S. healthcare system.

690 Independent Study in Health Science (1-3:0:)Prerequisite: admission to graduate program, and permission of associate dean for academic programs. In-depth studies of a selected area of health science theory, research, or practice under the direction of faculty. May be repeated for maximum 3 credits.

699 Practicum in International Healthcare (3:1:8)Prerequisite or corequisite: HSCI 698. Practicum in international health in a selected international health agency. Healthcare programs analyzed using a healthcare systems framework.

702 Managerial Accounting in Healthcare Organizations (3:3:0) Practical examination of the controllership function in healthcare organizations and systems (profit and not for profit), with emphasis on policy formulation and evaluation of performance, including cost methods and systems; measurement criteria; and managerial planning, methods, and techniques.

703 Financial Management of Health Systems (3:3:0)Prerequisites: HSCI 555 or admittance to a graduate nursing degree program (MSN or PhD) or health systems management MS degree program, and working knowledge of the healthcare industry. Examines tools and methods of financial management in healthcare organizations and systems, with emphasis on allocation and use of funds. Analysis of costs and constraints of alternative source of funds,
and application of financial decision instruments and their effect on operational management and market value of
the entity.

705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Healthcare (3:3:0) Develops executive skills for strategic decision making through the use of marketing-based tools and techniques. Covers strategic planning, market research and opportunity and risk analysis, customer assessment, market segmentation, and life cycle assessment for healthcare services in managed care and nonmanaged care environments.

707 Healthcare Management Policy, Law, and Ethics (3:3:0) Survey course that prepares healthcare executives to understand selected legal and ethical principles as applied to complex decision making and policy analysis in the management of healthcare organizations and systems. Legal relationships (torts and contracts) and ethical references are used for selective managerial application in the analysis and management of organizational and clinical dilemmas, statutory and regulatory trends, and management of scarce resources and interdisciplinary teams in health systems.

709 Healthcare Databases (3:3:0) Introduces design and use of health and medical databases, providing hands-on experience. Explores uses of medical record systems. Includes review and analysis of databases and database management systems. Examines application of databases to clinical and managerial transaction.

710 Health Management Practicum and Capstone Seminar (3:2:6)Prerequisite: all course work. Team-based field practicum in health management, problem analysis, and project management in a healthcare or service organization. Learning teams define a complex problem in the assigned facility, and analyze problem with recommendations for management decision action. Analysis provides the context in which theoretical concepts and management skills are applied to conduct the project. Practicum seminar uses case study analyses to explore problem-solving approaches in a variety of situations and healthcare or service organizations.

712 Epidemiology and Health Service Research (3:3:0) Introduction to epidemiology and health services research as a body of knowledge and a method for analyzing health problems. Students learn the role of health services research and epidemiology in policy and evidence-based management and clinical practice. Students design experiments, analyze secondary data, and evaluate impact of programs on health outcomes.

714 Telehealth Applications (3:3:0)Prerequisites: HSCI 678 or recent work experience in the U.S. health system. Overview of current and emerging telehealth applications. Focuses on uses and evaluation of telemedicine in rural and urban settings. Addresses telehealth programming; staffing; funding; reimbursement; and challenges of managing regulatory, ethical and international policy.

715 Health Economics (3:3:0) Emphasizes understanding of economic efficiency in the U.S. health system. Microeconomic methods examine markets and resources in healthcare. Healthcare is examined as a commodity, and explores demand for health and medical care services, provider behavior, and function and behavior of insurance markets. Topics include government role, financing arrangements, insurance reform, rationing, price regulation, and provider competition.

726 Advanced Seminar in Epidemiology (3:3:0)Prerequisite: HSCI 712 or equivalent, at discretion of advisor. Explores use of Causal Networks and Bayesian Probability Models in making causal inferences from nonrandomized studies in healthcare domain. Defines and measures statistical concepts such as confounding, selection bias, overall effects, direct effects, and intermediate variables in context of counterfactual causal model. Focuses on applying causal diagrams to epidemiological studies, and not on the mathematical derivation of the models. Students reanalyze data sets using software available for causal diagrams, and apply appropriate descriptive and analytic epidemiologic methodology to the data.

727 (3:3:0) Program Evaluation in HealthcarePrerequisite: HSCI 501, or introductory graduate-level course in statistics. Students learn methods of evaluating health and social programs, including anthropological case studies, decision analytic, and quasi-experimental approaches. Emphasizes methods of continuous quality improvement, and benchmarking exchanges in evaluating multisite programs. Students learn how to assess cost effectiveness of programs, including assessment of patient census, employee activities, and program outcomes. Discusses evaluation of healthcare interventions, rate settings, and managed care.

746 Advanced Seminar on Security (3:3:0) Describes new methods to manage and verify identity of patients and providers. Includes issues related to identity management in electronic and physical domains. Includes discussion of continuity of care, referral process, patient recruitment, and follow-up of community clinic visits. Includes emerging topics in healthcare security and new role of compliance officers.

750/NURS 750 Legal Issues Relevant to Healthcare Administration (3:3:0) Provides general understanding of U.S. legal system and sources of law, with emphasis on laws that govern or are applicable to healthcare industry and general administration. Students examine the changing healthcare models and delivery systems and laws
affecting them.

762 Aging and Healthcare Policy (3:3:0)Prerequisite or corequisite: HSCI 637, SOCI 599, or NURS 659; or permission of instructor. Focuses on policy perspective in relation to older adults in the community and in long-term care facilities. Students analyze policy issues and healthcare delivery systems as they affect the older adult through lecture, discussion, field trips, projects, and policy analysis papers.

770 Gerontology Practicum I (3:2:3)Prerequisite: all core course work; corequisite for gerontology tract majors: health services research for MS in health science. Field practicum in gerontology, emphasizing application of gerontological knowledge in designated facility, and developing skills to function in service organization for the aging. Problem identification and analysis, project development, and practical experience under supervision of qualified professional. Students collaborate with preceptor to develop useful project based on organizational and client needs. Uses case study analyses to explore problem-solving approaches. in variety of situations and healthcare or service organizations.

802/NURS 802 Measurement Theories and Applications in Healthcare Research (3:3:0)Prerequisite: doctoral-level course in research design and statistics. Completion of HSCI 800 or 801 highly recommended. Theories, principles, and techniques presented as foundation for development and evaluation of instruments in healthcare research. Includes review of statistical techniques for understanding measurement theory, reliability, validity, item, analysis, and instrument construction. Students required to design, construct, administer, analyze, and evaluate instrument in healthcare research.

830 The Scholarship of Writing (3:3:0) BoyerÕs framework for scholarship shapes the presentation of theory related to writing for scholarship. Students apply research in composition to inform writing for a variety of scholarly purposes, including overall conceptualization of research papers and proposals, writing for publication, and writing for scientific, creative, quantitative, and qualitative research. Seminar and intensive writing.

866/NURS 866 Healthcare Public Policy (3:2:1) Focuses on process of formulating healthcare policy and analyzing its implications for nursing, administration in nursing, and education and nursing service. Examines current and impending health issues, the legislative process, and program implementation evaluation. s

920/NURS 920 Qualitative Research in Nursing and Healthcare (3:3:0)Prerequisites or corequisites: NURS 955/HSCI 960 and a multivariate statistics course (HSCI 800 or equivalent); familiarity with e-mail and computers. Analysis of the philosophical foundations and approaches to qualitative research in nursing and healthcare administration, healthcare policy, and healthcare ethics within scholarship of discovery, integration, application, and teaching. Computer analysis required.

925/NURS 925 Methodological Issues in Nursing and Healthcare Qualitative Research (3:3:0)Prerequisite: NURS 920/HSCI 920 or equivalent course, and permission of instructor. Explores, analyzes, and synthesizes conceptual, methodological, and ethical issues in qualitative research within the scholarship of discovery, integration, application, and teaching. Seminar.